Journal of Systems and Information Technology

Say Yen Teoh; Shan L. Pan

2009 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/13287260910932386

Purpose – This study aims to create and deploy new configurations of resources via understanding issues concerning generative knowledge integration (KI) to create a customer‐centric relationship management system. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative case study of a public‐listed housing developer was conducted to analyze its main issues and conceptualize the underlying generative knowledge integration process. Findings – Issues concerning generating KI were identified from the case study. The conceptualization of generative KI encompasses three main generative KI mechanisms, knowledge conceptualization, knowledge convergence, and knowledge assimilation, that are connected by three generative KI processes: accessing and exchanging knowledge, articulating and exchanging knowledge, and combining and exchanging knowledge. Practical implications – The importance of understanding the concept of generative knowledge integration for practitioners is emphasized, and suggestions are given to promote the deployment of knowledge integration generation throughout system development. Originality/value – The research conducted is unique in that a new model of generative knowledge integration is proposed, contributing to the knowledge integration literature in terms of the uncovering the three new generative KI mechanisms and processes.

John Williams; Hefin Rowlands

2009 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/13287260910932395

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate a means of measuring information technology (IT) strategy improvements in small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach – A longitudinal study of eight SMEs was carried out over a two‐year period, applying an IT development scorecard which uses a Likert scale to measure changes during the study period. Findings – The paper finds that seven of the eight companies assessed during the period of the study showed improvements in their IT development, with only one company showing negligible improvement. The company that made negligible improvement went into receivership 12 months after completion of the study. Research limitations/implications – The key limitations were that only eight companies were prepared to participate fully in the study, and the diversity of type of company was large. Future research should include a larger sample size and use of companies from within the same industry/sector. Practical implications – The scorecard has practical implications in that instead of having to choose complicated IT planning systems or pay high consultancy charges, SME owner managers can use the scorecard themselves at no cost and make informed decisions on IT investments. Originality/value – This particular design of scorecard has not been used before, it is original, and will be of use for SME owner managers and IT practitioners, as it provides an easy‐to‐use tool to help plan and measure IT development within SMEs.

Abdul Hafeez‐Baig; Raj Gururajan

2009 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/13287260910932403

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the phenomenal of wireless handheld technology in healthcare environment. Design/methodology/approach – The paper adopts a mixed method approach and a qualitative approach with focus group and survey techniques. Findings – The study indicates that organizational readiness, technical readiness, clinical practice, social aspects as well as compatibility of new hardware with the existing system, play a crucial role in the adoption of wireless handheld devices in Australian healthcare systems Research limitations/implications – Future research in this domain needs to examine implications of wireless handheld technology at an organizational level in the healthcare environment and its adoptability to unique healthcare settings Originality/value – The research has established that access to data, communication enhancements, policy development, high quality information transmission and easy interfaces, are some of the factors influencing the acceptance of wireless technology in Australian healthcare systems. The study also identified challenges, such as the lack of management commitment, in realizing the acceptance.

David B. Meinert; Dane Peterson

2009 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/13287260910932412

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate why physicians in the USA have been reluctant to embrace electronic medical record (EMR) technology. More specifically, the present study aims to examine physicians' perceptions regarding the importance of various functions of EMR systems and the extent to which physician characteristics were related to the perceived importance of the functions. Design/methodology/approach – A mail survey was sent to 358 physicians affiliated with a large, multi‐specialty clinic located in the Midwest region of the USA. Findings – Although previous studies suggest that the age, computer sophistication, and medical specialty of physicians impacts the extent to which they use EMR technology, the present study found very little evidence that these characteristics of the physicians were related to the perceived importance of EMR functions. Practical implications – Since the results demonstrate that physicians view EMR technology as highly important, it was concluded that difference in the use of EMR technology among physicians was not primarily the result of differences in the perceived importance of EMR technology. Rather, it appears that a lack of computer skills may account for much of the resistance to adopting EMR technology. Thus, training to increase computer proficiency among physicians may be the key to increasing the acceptance of EMR technology. Originality/value – The paper provides useful information on physicians' perceptions of EMR technology.

Niall MacKenzie; Andrew Walsh

2009 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/13287260910932421

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on an action research initiative designed to facilitate the creation of shareable multimedia learning objects at a UK higher education institution. The use of multimedia learning objects in educational settings has been the subject of much interest in recent years. However, it has been suggested that a significant barrier to the uptake and use of these resources has been the lack of technical ability and support available to teachers. The Faculty of Health at Birmingham City University (BCU) was committed to the use of learning objects in the university's learning environment. However, creating innovative and exciting resources had been out of the reach of most lecturing staff due to time, financial and technical barriers. The Centre for Enhancing Learning and Teaching (CELT) at BCU collaborated with the Department of Community Health and Social Work in the Faculty of Health to produce a number of shareable learning objects to be used for enquiry‐based learning. Design/methodology/approach – The paper begins by discussing some theoretical background and existing studies before going on to outline the collaboration and the pedagogy that inspired the creation of the learning objects and the processes involved in creating the resources. Findings – The paper discusses some preliminary research results and plans for future development. Originality/value – The objective of this initiative was to explore ways in which we could overcome barriers to the creation of pedagogically sound learning objects.